Belgium - Jacques Santer on Tony Blair victory

(2 May 1997) T/I 10:26:06 Commenting on the results of general elections in Britain, EC Commisioner Jacques Santer said in Brussels on Friday (02/05) he was looking forward to working with Labour leader Tony Blair, who will be the next British prime minister. SHOWS: BRUSSELS, BELGIUM 02/05 EXT European Commission building; CU UK flag; INT hallway; MS European Commissioner Jacques Santer getting haircut; SOT Santer (in english) "I must say the British people have given their choice, its political determination. We respect that. We congratulate of course the British Labour leader Tony Blair, for his outstanding victory. For us of course it's very important that we look forward to working very closely with him. Because there are many challenges ahead in Europe.. the inter-government conference, the enlargement process, the economic and monetary union, also the performance and strengthening of the single market. And I hope that under the presidency of Tony Blair, the British presidency (of the EU) at the begining of 1998, we would handle all these problems. To bring prosperity, peace and I must say also security in Europe."; (reporter question: what difference do you think it will make to Britain's relations with Europe?); SOT Santer "That we have to see, we have to work very closely with him. There are now many challenges engaged and we have to work very very closely, and to confirm also the leading role that UK has to play in Europe as a great nation with a great history and it has to bring so many things to Europe and I hope that this way will continue under Tony Blair."; (reporter question: do you think it will make a difference though that he is Prime Minister rather than John Major?); SOT Santer "We had very close relations with John Major over the last ten years I must say, and Britain brought a lot of things to the European Community, a single market, the principle of subsidiarity, the pragmatism, and so on"; CA cameras; SOT Santer "We have to have Britain in a leading role, at the heart of Europe. Because of history, because of all it's done for Europe, and I think that we have to underline this leading role of Britain also for the future."; (reporter question: will Mr Blair have a honeymoon with European Commission?); SOT Santer "I don't know, we have to work very hard in the future and as i said the UK will have the presidency at the begining of 1998.. it's not far away, 1998, we have now to work very hard so that the British presidency will be also a great success in 1998, for Europe and the United Kingdom." Runs 3.20 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...